Idaʼan language
The Idaʼan language is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by the Idaʼan people on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia.
Background
The language has a long literary history; the earliest known work in the language is a manuscript dated 1408 A.D. The manuscript, written using the Jawi script, gives an account of an Idaʼan man named Abdullah in Darvel Bay who embraced Islam, with the region thus becoming one of the earliest known regions in Malaysia to embrace Islam. The Idaʼan, Begak and Subpan peoples originally formed one ethnic group. The Idaʼan converted to Islam following the conversion of Abdullah, while the Begak and Subpan continued to practice their traditional religion.Varieties
The Idaʼan language has been described as having three dialects: Idaʼan proper, Begak, and Subpan. These dialects correspond to three ethnic groups who originally formed a single group.Lobel lists Sungai Seguliud and Begak as Idaanic languages. The Begak dialect is said to be threatened with extinction, as younger speakers are switching to Malay.